Hanging By a Very Thin Limb

August 18th, 2011

I am wrong…a lot.  I admit this freely, of course, because lying about it will always come back to bite me in the ass, but let me assure you this statement does leave dents in my pride.

A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with a friend and I…the poster-child for stubbornness, had insisted that “I have read books about every freaking topic on the planet.” Now, I know what you are thinking; “Misty…you are a total dumbass, that is the broadest statement imaginable.” And to that I say…”Yes, you are right.” Naturally (because Karma has it in for me) a week later I started reading a book that took me completely by surprise, and (predictably so, I imagine) found myself in the uncomfortable position of having to hear those dreaded words “I told you so!” (as my friend wagged her finger at me in unabashed triumph.) Regardless of the humiliation my cockiness had afforded me however, I have to admit that I would graciously accept multiple tongue lashings, if only I could be as shocked by a book (or at least the “people” in it) as I was by Kailin Gow’s little ditty ”Desire.”

Here’s what the synopsis said:

“A Dystopian world where everyone’s future is planned out for them at age 18…whether it is what a person desires or not.
Kama is about to turn 18 and she thinks her Life s Plan will turn out like her boyfriend’s and friend’s as they desired. But when she glimpse a young man who can communicate with her with his thoughts and knows her name…a young man with burning blue eyes and raven hair, who is dressed like no other in her world, she is left to question her Life’s Plan and her destiny. Knowing the truth can destroy everyone…”

So…you want to know what the shock was? Too bad, I’m not going to tell you, but I will say that this is NOT your average Dystopian read.  Yes, it has the markings of any great dystopian story (lack of freedom, predetermined future…yada yada) but the complications in Gow’s society is not what makes this particular book interesting; it’s Gow’s incorporation of ”fantasy” that does.  That’s right folks…I said fantasy. (for the record…that’s not the shocker, just an intriguing fact.)

If I’m to be honest, the “dystopian” aspects of the novel are VERY similar to at least 3 other books I have read (which shall remain nameless) and that is a little disconcerting, but thankfully for Gow, her characters (the entangled romance that surrounds them), and the sub plots strewn throughout, drown out these little issues, AND…in a stroke of what I can only assume is literary genius she combined the best elements of each of her genre tags:

Dystopian – The inevitability of an action packed up-rising

Fantasy – A journey down an unpredictable, and life changing path, that leads you TO that action.

The title…”Desire”…is exactly what this book is about. The desire Kama has to understand her past, present and future. Her desire to understand the nature of her situation so that she can make responsible choices, and her desire to make out with 2 very cute (and powerful) boys. (Who could blame her.)

To be blunt, the book was great.

Gow’s writing was solid, and the story left me wanting for more.  (It ended in a cliffhanger. Damn it!)

If you are a fan of books like “Possession” “Delirium” or anything paranormal I have a feeling you will love this read.

It’s a little pricey (by comparison) but still worth the dime.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: just when you THOUGHT you’ve read it all, an author will ALWAYS pull something new out of the bottle. (P.S. that was a hint)

Click image for additional details.

(4/5)

Comment ( 1 )

, , ,

Scaling Nooses

August 5th, 2011

When I was a little girl I used to keep a journal, not for normal reasons of course, (I’m way to unconventional for that) but to keep myself from running away.  See, while most girls were busy scribbling notes about boys and what dress they were going to wear to the dance, I was busy fighting off evil warlords or exploring sunken ships.  My writing was an escape, (it still is actually,) and because of it I was able to face down what I thought to be the more “problematic” issues of my adolescence. (How hard is a Geography test really gonna be after I just escaped from Hurtsalini -the Mistress of the Underworld’s – death grip.) Since my awkward tween days I have stopped journaling, opting for a more “grown up” alternative (compiling the worlds longest bucket list) but regardless of the absence of my little green binder the thrill of creating my own world has never left me.
 
In Stephanie Void’s novel “Running From Secrets” Bethany (the heroine) takes the world of journaling to a whole new level.  Not only does she WRITE the story of her dreams, but after just a few pages, she finds herself LIVING it.
 
“Bethany has never felt as alone as she feels in Linwood—until she dreams up Chime, a woman on the run because of a magic crime she didn’t commit. The dreams get more and more urgent, so Bethany tries to banish them by writing them down, only to discover she’s stumbled into the role of unwitting controller of Chime’s world. 
 
Chime is real here, and so is the possessed queen, minion army, mysterious professor, Vault Five, wind chimes with a secret code, child’s rhyme that can kill, the naked painting, and other things Chime’s story leads her to.

She has to fix the story without erasing Chime and her world, because if she erases Chime, she will die as well.”

 
Ok, now…where to start.
 
I guess the most important thing to get across to you (the potential reader) would be that “I genuinely enjoyed this read.”  It was short, (probably a little too short for all of the features, loops and plot structures it combined,) but regardless of its length it delivered on the most basic of levels: keeping me entertained.
 
That’s not to say I didn’t spot a few issues though.
 
#1.  The transitions needed help. 
 
On more than one occasion I felt myself cringing at the flip between “fantasy” and “real.” Both plot lines were important to the story but the seams connecting the two were choppy and (at times) misplaced. I know I have said this on more than one occasion, but it is important for authors to understand and acknowledge “flow.”  If (for instance) your “fantasy realm” is in the middle of a major plot point, and you decided to pull your character back into “real life” with nothing but a # mark, you risk the chance of losing your readers attention.  Cleaning up one “run” before starting another is imperative. (I’m not saying settle the whole problem before you move on, just make the scenario solid before you do so.)
 
#2. There were dialogue hiccups. 
 
Bethany’s manner of speaking took on VERY different rolls depending on whom she was speaking to.  In interactions with her younger sister her words came across as grand-motherly and sophisticated, scroll a few paragraphs down (when speaking to a professor or her peers) her words would turn shy, flip the page and suddenly she was assertive and confident (this was around Chime.) With Bethany’s dialogue taking on so many characteristics it was a little difficult to pin down her “true self” (if you catch my drift.)
 
Overall however, (transitions and dialogue discrepancies aside) I thought the story was interesting, definitely original, and a hell of a lot of fun to read (without taking up too much of your time.)
 
I think fantasy lovers will appreciate this one, for the rest of you it might be a hit or miss. (aka it reads mostly fantasy with only appearances of reality to break for Bethany’s story structuring.)
 
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: if you build it they will come.
 
Click image for complete details.
 
(3.5/5)
 

Comments ( 0 )

, ,

Stupid Love Potion!!!

July 14th, 2011

I don’t think that in all my years of reading, (or reviewing for that matter) I have ever knowingly pinned the words “fantasy” and “humorous” together.  Fantasy has always been “Epic,” “Creative,” “Beautiful” but never…funny. The tales and journeys that make up the fantasy genre usually come with heart-shattering consequences, or at the very least some mind-bending self actualization, but, as a I flipped my Kindle closed on Daniel Arenson’s latest novel “Eye of the Wizard” the only coherent thought I could form was, “What the hell was that!?” (Eloquent right? LOL) The fact of the matter was…I was NOT expecting to laugh while reading this book. Don’t buy that? Here, lets take a look at the synopsis:

“On the longest night of the year, a dark wizard murders a knight and his wife.  The knight’s children survive and swear revenge. Sam and Jamie vow to become knights like their father. Neev, the middle child, vows to become a wizard.  Five years later, things look grim. Sam is useless with the sword. Jamie is denied knighthood because she’s a girl. Neev cannot cast a spell without growing donkey ears, a monkey tail, or an elephant trunk. The siblings feel like failures.  That’s when the dark wizard strikes again.  Are the siblings powerful enough to defeat him? Or will they too die at his hands?”

Doesn’t exactly scream “chuckle-fest” does it?

All of my preconceived notions and lofty expectations aside however, the story was wildly entertaining.

One of the best things about Daniel’s writing is his ability to build stories within themselves. Was there one major plot? Of course, (evil warlock wants revenge-so does a group of kids-chaos ensues,) but it’s the back stories he creates for his characters that make his books come alive.  For example, if we didn’t know that Romy was a demon who used to spend all of her free time torturing sinners with a pitchfork, then her irrational fear of baby ducklings wouldn’t #1. make sense or #2. be as cackle worthy as it was. But…since we were offered up a past, present, and her inner dialogue as a glimpse into the future, we are able to enjoy all of the quirkiness needed to make a book (like this one) and the people residing inside of it successful.

Now, the narrative found in the pages of “Eye of the Wizard”, (and this is important) require your full attention. One of Daniel’s signature “traits” is to make his novels multi-narrative. This particular book boast (at one point) up to 8 different points of view. (I’ll give you a second to let that sink it…..ok) With so many different thoughts coming from a gazillion different directions, the chances of you “not knowing what the sam hell is going on,” are pretty high up there, (that means don’t read this book when you SHOULD be sleeping.) Just pay close attention to the words in front of you and you should be just fine.

As for the funny bits, (because that’s what really caught my attention) you can expect them to come at you in many different shapes and sizes, (ironic, slap stick, and on several occasions the absolutely absurd.) Taking the jokes for what they are, and not over-analyzing them is what makes the whole experience worth the while. For instance, who hasn’t had this thought before:

“Will you villains never learn?”

“Never spend so much time explaining your plans.”

Funny Right?

All in all it was a fun ride, with a band full of outcasts and misfits, who…despite their best efforts, always seem to find themselves a couple of fries short of a Happy Meal.

Not my favorite of Daniel’s books, but on par with the quality work I have grown to expect from him.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: If you are going to dabble in love potions, make sure the correct person drinks it. There is nothing worse than a burly bartender chasing you down for a goodnight kiss.

Click image for complete details

(4/5)

Comments ( 3 )

, ,

Dear Michael, I’ll Love You.

November 3rd, 2010

When I was a teenager I was fascinated by angels.  Not the puffy-winged-halo-sporting type, more the Archangel-wrath-of-God type.  The fact that there was a whole army of sword wielding higher beings blew my mind.  The more I read, the more I needed to read, and before I knew it I was knee deep in biblical reference material and spouting angelic tales to any poor soul that would listen. Now… like every other one of my unique (and sometimes warped fascinations) my futile need for warrior-angel information wained and I moved on,  (If I remember correctly Al Capone was next on the list) but one thing is forever certain; once a junkie always a junkie. That being said, I will ask you now to imagine my excitement when I read the blurb for Daniel Arenson’s new novel “Flaming Dove” and discovered it is basically the literary version of “Avenging Angel Crack.”

Life on Earth hasn’t been the same since Armageddon.  A battle that was supposed to bring peace and happiness instead brought confusion, desolation, and for Laila a whole lot of anger.  Being the daughter of an Angel, and the rape victim spawn of a Lucifer Laila, (more than anyone,) finds herself at a loss.  Not wanting to take sides in the inevitable battle for Earth’s holy possession she roams the woods like the outcast she has unknowingly made herself. But sometimes hiding is not enough.  As the armies of Heaven and Hell search for their pawn, Laila finally realizes something… until she can accept her demon/angel ways, she will never be able to accept her fate in the history of the world.

Having read (and reviewed) Arenson’s work before I was almost certain I would enjoy it. I am no stranger to fantasy (duh) and Arenson (more than most) has a genuinely unique way of storytelling, but even with the expected rapture, the quick reading, and unwillingness to put my Kindle down what I didn’t expect was to: gasp, sigh, grit my teeth, cuss my Kindle and cry.

This was not just a story about an emotionally lost half-breed girl. It’s was more than epic battles and avenging angels.  It was the discovery of ones self, the inner battle between good and evil. It was about accepting our fates, understanding our future, and blazing our own paths to happiness… regardless of our ancestry. This was a story about choosing your own way of life.

Now… I’m sure your next question is “Misty, how in the hell can you wrap all of that up in 294 pages?”  and to that I say “It’s simple.” Perfectly executed inner dialogue. Off the charts characterization, and battles so intense that even the smallest of deaths left a dent in the reader’s armor.  If there were flaws I failed to notice.  If there were holes, I must have taken a different path, because to me… “Flaming Dove” is what a fantasy novel should strive to be.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Michael may be made of stone, but in the end… everything can be broken.

Click image for complete details.

(5/5)

Comment ( 1 )

, , , ,

Pesky Little Ghost!

May 17th, 2010

The most beautiful thing about fantasy novels are the languages in which they are written.  (I want you to take the time to think about this for just a second.)

1.  The time period in which these novels are set is seemingly insignificant.

2.  The setting in which the scenes are formed is of the writers own design, and

3. The common use of gods/demons/magics open up reels of recently lost or dismissed vernacular.

Here is a genre in which the author makes the rules, not conforms to them. Their characters speak in whichever manner they like, and the author is free to build kingdoms and histories with loads of imagined flourish. (no need for factual poignancy when your lands are your own.) That being said… if find you are one of those people that love the eloquence and epic nature of fantasy (think Goodkind or George R.R. Martin) then the reason above should be more than enough to entice you into the world that Carolyn Kephart created in “The Ryel Saga.” But if you are one of those people that need more convincing than a beautifully sculpted magical world… then how about the fact that this is a 2fer.  Yep… that’s right, 2 books for the price of 1. ($.99)

Ryel has been living a lie, but have no fear, all of his misconceptions and preconceived notions are quickly unwound and rectified when his long lost uncle (who just happens to be a wysard) comes to take him back to Markul where he belongs. Being thrown headfirst into “wysard” training is draining and (to be honest) a little daunting, but not as daunting as the very sudden death of his mentor. Finally realizing that his mentor is stuck in the wraith-world (or held captive by a malignant sorcerer, as it may be) Ryel sets out to rediscover a long lost spell and set him free.  Can he pull off the unimaginable? Who can he really trust? And more importantly… when he finally gets what he wants… is it really what he wanted?

In the first couple of chapters I was certain that “Kephart” had bitten off more than she could chew.  Her descriptives were brilliant and vivid, but were leading nowhere (lots of hoping around, no clear promise of a steady plot) but thankfully, after mentally scolding Kephart” to get to the point, she finally did and the journey began. Yes… I do think that there were several occasions in which she floated away from the plot in search of unnecessary detail and expanded back-story, but this is not an uncommon mistake among new authors. (It’s hard to chop up a story you worked so hard on.) Also… as with most fantasy novels… it is not a quick read.  It will take focus to keep up with the plot (especially the names) and you may at times find yourself rereading a passage just to make sure you didn’t miss anything.  Since there were 2 novels in the version that I read it is also important to point out that the writing got even better (more fluid) towards the end of what would be the first novel (Wysard.)

All in all I think it was a valiant and noteworthy start to a promising career and the future of fantasy writing. (aka… buy the freaking book.. you have spent more money on less entertaining things.)

Happy reading my fellow Wysards and remember: If your lovers eyes turn black and she starts laughing hysterically… take it as a general rule of thumb that something is wrong.

For a complete book description click image

(3.5/5)

Comments ( 0 )

, , ,

Twinkle Twinkle Little Bug

April 30th, 2010

“Firefly Island” is going to be exasperatingly difficult to review, not because I disliked the novel, but because this was a fantasy novel that had so many twists and turns that it is almost impossible to sum it up with a simple “this was good.”

We all know that I love fantasy novels, there is something so fantastic and epic about them that its like having a really cool pop-up book inside of your head. They are about journeys and soul searching, conquering evil and finding ones self, they are about ogres and warriors and the kings that lead them. They are about seeing what nobody else sees… and in this particular case it was about what “Daniel Arenson” saw.

Firefly Island is on the brink of civil war and there is only one girl that can stop it, unfortunately she was sold as a slave to an ogre when she was a small child. Knowing that nothing short of a miracle is going to set her free Aeolia jumps for joy when a mysterious, man dressed in battle gear, (and claiming to be her brothers best friend) comes to take her away. It’s just to bad that her knight in shining armor turns out to be evil incarnate. After discovering that things in the outside world aren’t quite so peachy, Aeolia and her band of very gifted friends take matters into their own hands, wielding swords and magical gifts, determined to topple an evil king and change the future of the 5 races.

“Arenson” wrote fantasy in every aspect of the word. He had pages of flourishing details, new lands that were described right down to the color of the leaves, and clans of people that were engaging and unique. The plot was smooth (even throughout the flashback sequences) and unbelievably complex. (several stories, 1 defining plot) The biggest complaint I have (naturally) was with the character development. The majority of the main characters were described flawlessly (emotional thought, appearance, reaction) but there were a few characters that (to me) seemed more like afterthoughts. There were also a few places (in the action scenes) that seemed to stop a tad abruptly, and to be honest the last couple of paragraphs were just kind of BLAH… but up until that point it was an action filled, fun ride.

There were shape shifting girls, chameleon boys, and angry prince with a wicked scar, the most dangerous arrows ever created, roughly 200 battles (ha), and 1 very pissed off girl with a torch.

If you are a fan of books like “Lord of The Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” you will LOVE this book. For the rest of you… you will probably be entertained but won’t be running in the streets screaming it’s praises.

Figure out who you are… and run with it.

Happy reading my fellow Forestfolk and remember: Hiding in a tunnel only works for terrorist and crazy poets, and I’m pretty sure you are neither.

(4/5)

Comment ( 1 )

, ,

Darkness Take Me Away!

March 3rd, 2010

A couple of weeks ago I was having a “Best Reads of 2009″ conversation with a fellow book enthusiast; and while on most titles we disagreed (She loved the “Blue Bloods” series, while I wanted to chunk them out of a car window while cruising down the interstate at 70mph) we did agree on 1 thing… “The Mortal Instruments” series finished leaps and bounds over the rest of the competition in 2009. The series had all of the components to keep a reader captivated, separation, angst, deceitfulness, and arrogance (to name a few) but after I closed book 3 I was slammed with the reality that THIS was the series that would ruin my optimism for any and all fantasy series that would follow it.

I found “The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms” while updating my Shelfari page last month, and was immediately intrigued. A relatively unknown author was stunning the literary world into silence with her “brilliant” (to quote about 10 articles I read on it) creation of not only a new world, but one that was so amazing it had already been named as a top pick for several awards for 2010. With such promises as “War of the God’s” and “the ultimate battle for power” being tossed around like dirty laundry it was almost impossible for me to NOT read it.

One word: WOW

After the first couple of pages, my faith in the ability of another fantasy novel intriguing me so fully was restored, and by chapter 2 I was sucked in.

The Sky world is ruled by 1 family, and to deny them or betray them means certain death, but when a lost heir to the thrown suddenly reappears, plans and conspiracies start to unfold. Who is this rugged warrior girl? When the God’s suddenly take notice of her so does everyone else, what Yeine doesn’t know however, is that she is just a pawn in a really large game of chess. While the clock ticks, Yeine rushes to find answers, but when the answers she seeks so intently turn out to be more horrific than she first imagined can she handle them? Who can she trust? Who can she love? And who is the real leader of humanity?

“NK Jemisin” floored me with her ability to create a world that only a true master of imagination could. Her writing was fluid and the plot, though easily followed, twisted and turned creating surprises and confusion at exactly the right moments. Her ability to capture the thoughts and actions of so many different cultures and personality types was impressive, and the fact that this was her debut novel and a start to a new series, not only shocked me, it impressed me in ways other authors never have.

There was an evil cousin willing to destroy her surroundings for power, a desperate chase at the first moment of darkness, a little boy who loved disappearing walls, a very bitter grandfather, an empire in the sky, a scary moment between 2 gods, a beautiful man who had forgotten how to be gentle, and several fight scenes that brought a whole new meaning to “brotherly love.”

If you love stepping out of yourself and into a world that is fueled by jealousy, love, deception, acceptance, and pure unadulterated hatred then this is a novel you do not want to miss.

If you are a fantasy lover and relish in the details of a God’s inevitable mortal flaws, then this is a book for you.

If you…like to read…this is a book for you.

I cannot wait for book #2!

Happy reading my fellow Mortals and remember: if there is a will there is a way, sometimes it just takes a little self control.

For a complete book description click image

(5/5)

Comments ( 2 )

, , ,

RSS Feed

  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Furl
  • Stumble
  • Technorati
  • Yahoo